Letters: Deadline for applying for college financial aid coming up

The deadline for graduating seniors to apply for financial aid via FAFSA is fast approaching. Muskegon County seniors wishing to attend college in Michigan during the 2012-2013 school year must apply online by March, 1 2012, at 1 a.m.

FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is offered through the U.S. Department of Education (fafsa.ed.gov) to ensure all qualified students have access to federal government assistance for their postsecondary education needs. This aid includes Pell grants, subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans and more.

Financial aid makes college affordable for everyone by helping to close the gap between the cost of college and expected family contribution.

Many students and their parents or guardians are unaware of the critical impact FAFSA can have on a students’ ability to attend college and Muskegon Opportunity aims to ensure every student has the opportunity to apply.

Muskegon Opportunity, high school counselors, the college advising corps members and the local postsecondary institutions continue to provide numerous resources such as financial aid nights, financial aid workshops and one-on-one assistance to help students and their parents or guardians with the financial aid application process.

In fact, Muskegon Community College is hosting College Goal 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12. Free on-site professional assistance will be provided to guide students and their parents or guardians through the FAFSA application process. You can also visit www.micollegegoal.org for more information. Other useful sites to help navigate the financial aid and college application process include www.MuskegonOpportunity.com, www.Baker.edu, www.muskegoncc.edu, www.knowhow2go.org and of course www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid all of which provide useful information for preparing for college as early as middle school.